Why Gardenias Are Hard to Grow and How to Care for Them: Methods and Precautions

Nothing relaxes the body and mind more when you walk in the door than a wave of fragrance greeting you, lifting your spirits and melting away fatigue. Today, let's talk about the gardenia: how do you grow it so its leaves stay glossy green and it keeps blooming?

The first step to growing a good gardenia is that once you bring it home, you must let it acclimatize. Many gardening enthusiasts complain that the gardenia they bought home started to yellow within a few days, and that the plant had plenty of buds but they just wouldn't open; in the end, the root cause is that it was not acclimatized. That is because most gardenias were in greenhouse sheds before we bought them, and then they went through express shipping and were stuffy for a few days, so once they reach our hands we must open the packaging as soon as possible to give them ventilation and let them breathe.
Then, you can use the soaking method: soak the pot for one hour so the potting soil absorbs enough water, then take it out. After that, choose a spot with good ventilation and scattered light, and do not expose it to too much direct sun. Acclimatize it for about a week, then gradually increase the light. As for repotting, be careful not to rush to put it into your own pretty pot, because repotting at this time is very damaging to the gardenia's roots. If you want to repot, it is suggested to wait until all its flowers have faded before repotting.

Another thing to note is that within the first 20 days after buying it, you do not need to fertilize it; wait until acclimatization succeeds, then go back to normal care. What should you pay attention to in care? First, the gardenia is a plant that especially loves full sun. If you only put it in a place with little light, it will be very hard for it to bloom. But in summer, when the temperature exceeds 28°C, you need to shade it. Then, the potting soil must be loose and breathable, and must not hold standing water.

Finally, the gardenia is a plant that strongly loves water; if you feel it is short of water, just water it directly. In summer or in drier seasons, you need to give it a shower every day, and you can also use a spray bottle to frequently mist the buds and leaves. For regular fertilizing, you can choose a compound fertilizer or Huaduoduo No. 1 (fertilizer-to-water ratio 1:1000); dissolve it and pour it directly onto the potting soil, and you can fertilize 2 to 3 times a month.